Cw Ban To Preserve Health, Treasures

Smoking Not Allowed In Historic Buildings

WILLIAMSBURG — Colonial Williamsburg is snuffing the use of tobacco in its portrayal of a state built on the tobacco trade.

As of Jan. 1, smoking is prohibited inside all historical buildings, for costumed and non-costumed workers alike.

But interpreter John Lowe said the ban won't hamper his presentation of life in 18th-century Virginia. For five years he has carried a tobacco-less clay pipe in his portrayal of carpenter Benjamin Powell.

"I rub it around and hold it so it has the effect of being used," Lowe said. "It's a very useful prop, but it's still just a prop."

Characters meeting in Raleigh Tavern also hold pipes without smoking them, said Bill White, director for interpretation in the Historic Area.

"It's like running humidity and temperature control in the buildings to preserve the antiques: It's another historical compromise we have to make," White said.

"I think the visitors understand that we've compromised, but the illusion is still there. Everyone knows the 18th century is gone."

Colonial Williamsburg declared the smoking ban to improve the health of employees, decrease the threat of fire and reduce damage to antique fabrics, furniture and paintings, said John Bacon, associate general counsel for CW.

"There are certainly some historical ironies here. But this is really a nationwide trend. If anything, Colonial Williamsburg is a bit behind the trend," Bacon said.

Most museums ban smoking because cigarettes produce dense smoke that coats antiques and clouds the color of fabrics, said John Sands, CW director of collections. Tourists have not been allowed to smoke since World War II, he said.

"Nothing's permanent. All of these artifacts are going to be gone someday, but our goal is to extend their useful life," Sands said. "We don't eat chocolate chip cookies in the exhibition rooms either, because bugs like chocolate chip cookies and textiles, too."

Interpreters still build fires in kitchens and outlying workshops, but most fireplaces are not lit anymore because their smoke is also harmful, he said.

"You don't want to grind completely to a halt because fires and candles are a part of our story. But there's a trade-off there," Sands said.

Employees can still smoke outside, but costumed interpreters cannot let tourists see them smoking modern cigarettes. That leaves smoking in their cars or in hidden locations. CW is offering classes to help employees kick the habit.

Lowe said he won't have trouble with the ban because he only smokes in the morning or evening over coffee. His smoking style was common among male colonists, who usually smoked socially, White said. And wealthy ladies didn't smoke at all.

"Tobacco was cheap, but in the 18th century it was much more of a social activity, when people got together in the evening. It was not the kind of constant companion that it became in the 20th century," White said.

SNUFFED

* As of Jan. 1, smoking is prohibited inside all historical buildings, for all workers.

* With the ban, CW hopes to improve the health of employees, decrease the threat of fire and reduce damage to antique fabrics, furniture and paintings.